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Вся правда о жире
Миллионы людей во всем мире сидят на диетах: в надежде избавиться от лишних килограммов одни отказываются от сладкого, другие урезают калории, а кто-то и вовсе начинает голодать. Но в конце концов почти все терпят поражение в борьбе с собственным жиром, и это неудивительно, ведь ученые так до конца не установили, в чем причины ожирения, и не нашли "волшебную таблетку" от него. Хотя кое-что все же удалось выяснить: формула "меньше ешь, больше двигайся" - не решение проблемы.
Энтони Уорнер, более известный как Разъяренный Повар, решил разобраться, стоит ли говорить об ожирении как о пандемии, почему так сложно похудеть раз и навсегда и так ли уж это необходимо.
Энтони Уорнер, более известный как Разъяренный Повар, решил разобраться, стоит ли говорить об ожирении как о пандемии, почему так сложно похудеть раз и навсегда и так ли уж это необходимо.
512 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 11, 2019
This book tells the story of fat, what it is to be fat, what different techniques have been used to fight it, the science behind all sorts of fat related issues and how society and fat interact. It is framed around an investigation into what is causing the current ‘obesity epidemic’.
Despite being very interested in the subject matter, I am not part of the target audience for this book. It is aimed at non-fat people. It is aimed at people of prejudice. It is aimed at people who know very little about fatness and how and why it happens. It is aimed at people with power to make regulations on issues like how much sugar can be in sweetened drinks and the like. It is aimed at people unfamiliar with systems thinking. For these people I think it would be a very helpful and informative book. It is easy to listen to/read. It is passionate. It is informative and correct. It is on occasion quite humorous despite having a completely serious subject-matter.
Unfortunately, I am a biology graduate who has taken an interest in this sort of thing and who has also had to fight excess weight all my life. I personally found what was intended to be constant haranguing to stop being prejudiced against fat people very demoralising. Constantly rubbing in all the different ways people can attack you intentionally or unintentionally on a regular basis throughout the book was buffeting. People do these things – no duh! To also be told that anything you do to avoid weight gain is useless over and over again is demoralising. It is difficult though. People who do not live it do have to be told, but I felt like there should be a warning label on the cover saying don’t read this if you’re fat.
Possible spoiler alert…
I have also learned systems thinking and used it in my work. So finding that all he had to offer was “it is a complex problem that needs holistic thinking to attack it” as the great reveal at the end of his narrative and not as the starting assumption was quite a let-down for me. Again though, for anyone not already familiar with systems, a) why not, everyone should be taught this! It affects everything we do, and b) it is totally true and if you do not know what I’m talking about – read this book it will open your eyes and be really well worthwhile.
Despite being very interested in the subject matter, I am not part of the target audience for this book. It is aimed at non-fat people. It is aimed at people of prejudice. It is aimed at people who know very little about fatness and how and why it happens. It is aimed at people with power to make regulations on issues like how much sugar can be in sweetened drinks and the like. It is aimed at people unfamiliar with systems thinking. For these people I think it would be a very helpful and informative book. It is easy to listen to/read. It is passionate. It is informative and correct. It is on occasion quite humorous despite having a completely serious subject-matter.
Unfortunately, I am a biology graduate who has taken an interest in this sort of thing and who has also had to fight excess weight all my life. I personally found what was intended to be constant haranguing to stop being prejudiced against fat people very demoralising. Constantly rubbing in all the different ways people can attack you intentionally or unintentionally on a regular basis throughout the book was buffeting. People do these things – no duh! To also be told that anything you do to avoid weight gain is useless over and over again is demoralising. It is difficult though. People who do not live it do have to be told, but I felt like there should be a warning label on the cover saying don’t read this if you’re fat.
Possible spoiler alert…
I have also learned systems thinking and used it in my work. So finding that all he had to offer was “it is a complex problem that needs holistic thinking to attack it” as the great reveal at the end of his narrative and not as the starting assumption was quite a let-down for me. Again though, for anyone not already familiar with systems, a) why not, everyone should be taught this! It affects everything we do, and b) it is totally true and if you do not know what I’m talking about – read this book it will open your eyes and be really well worthwhile.
May 8, 2020
Warner is definitely angry, leveling fire equally at neoliberals whom he blames for so many of the systems that contribute to obesity, and at cultures that stigmatize fat people.
While I found some of his arguments confusing and seemingly self-contradictory, nearly all of them were antithetical to the linear, judgmental beliefs I’d grown up with... the beliefs that chained and dragged my sister down into an eating disorder and suicide. Better to die, she reasoned, than to walk around like the fat Americans she loathed... so much weight jiggling on their frames. She was terrified of ending up like them.
I was sobered to face some of my deepest views of obesity and realize how wrong and unfair they are, and how, if I act on them, I will perpetuate the culture that enslaved my sister, from within and without.
I appreciated Warner’s conclusion that obesity is a complex, multifactorial problem, and needs to be addressed in a non-stigmatizing, individualized, baby steps way.
While I found some of his arguments confusing and seemingly self-contradictory, nearly all of them were antithetical to the linear, judgmental beliefs I’d grown up with... the beliefs that chained and dragged my sister down into an eating disorder and suicide. Better to die, she reasoned, than to walk around like the fat Americans she loathed... so much weight jiggling on their frames. She was terrified of ending up like them.
I was sobered to face some of my deepest views of obesity and realize how wrong and unfair they are, and how, if I act on them, I will perpetuate the culture that enslaved my sister, from within and without.
I appreciated Warner’s conclusion that obesity is a complex, multifactorial problem, and needs to be addressed in a non-stigmatizing, individualized, baby steps way.
January 20, 2019
I thought this book was amazing. It was hugely informative, brilliantly well researched and extremely well written. I'd never heard of Anthony Warner before - I found the book via a newspaper review. I'm so glad I took a chance and read it. Not only do I feel like I have a new perspective on obesity and dieting - as an industry - but I also really appreciated his chapter on poverty (why broke and poor are different). I've been reading things out and talking it through with my partner for a week.
The most pertinent thing to me was how if you eat healthy food and exercise it makes no difference which 'BMI' category you're in, except for underweight and morbidly obese (plus). Therefore, if people are genuinely interested in health and not aesthetics this, and only this, should be at the centre of all health messaging regarding weight.
The most pertinent thing to me was how if you eat healthy food and exercise it makes no difference which 'BMI' category you're in, except for underweight and morbidly obese (plus). Therefore, if people are genuinely interested in health and not aesthetics this, and only this, should be at the centre of all health messaging regarding weight.
January 7, 2020
The Ben Goldacre of food is back with another excellent tome - great mix of actual compassion for people who are bullied or shamed for being overweight, patient and careful explanation of all the possible factors that may contribute to people putting on weight and being unable to lose it, and anger at BS and exploitation in the dieting industry. Highly recommend.
May 13, 2021
I did not finish this book - I wanted to but the more I read the less I enjoyed it. Some sections were interesting but, In short, in the authors effort to avoid prejudice against fat people he keeps on emphasising it, it begins to be a bit demoralising. His main message is not to be prejudice against overweight/obesity however during the book the author is rather prejudice to other beliefs and religion.
I believe the authors point - there are many confounding factors to weight gain, from genetics to diet to environmental factors, and to address these we have to stop pointing the finger and judging/showing prejudice just because a person is overweight. That is not going to get us anywhere. However he could have said that in a single paragraph rather then repeating the same point worded slightly differently throughout the whole book.
I believe the authors point - there are many confounding factors to weight gain, from genetics to diet to environmental factors, and to address these we have to stop pointing the finger and judging/showing prejudice just because a person is overweight. That is not going to get us anywhere. However he could have said that in a single paragraph rather then repeating the same point worded slightly differently throughout the whole book.
October 16, 2021
This was really quite different from what I expected it to be, in a good way, and it turned out to be an entertaining, educational, well-informed, considered book that I suppose fits most easily into the 'food science' category. What it is NOT is a 'how to lose weight' manual or guide, and in some ways it turns out that anyone buying it for that purpose might be very disappointed to find out that there is no single quick-fix solution to losing weight (the author cheekily suggests that he will reveal one in the final chapter - he doesn't).
Rather the author begins by examining the myth or reality of the 'obesity epidemic' and then provides reasons why losing weight is very hard (to do with metablisms and settling points); the man section of the book examines the commonly associated factors that have led us to gain weight, asking if carbs, lack of exercise, genetics, fat, environment etc are the causes of weight gain. As he superbly demonstrates, the answer is none of these and perhaps a bit of all of these (including other factors not commonly considered but potential contributors such as increased living temperatures). The book finishes with an explanation of why weight gain is a complex rather than just a complicated problem and really requires a system solution.
This is an excellent book that challenges the 'eat less, exercise more' moral simplicity of many fat shamers and blamers and indicates that there are many convulted reasons why any individual may be fat, and why societies are becoming fatter. The book is extremely well researched and written and kept me entertained and informed throughout.
Rather the author begins by examining the myth or reality of the 'obesity epidemic' and then provides reasons why losing weight is very hard (to do with metablisms and settling points); the man section of the book examines the commonly associated factors that have led us to gain weight, asking if carbs, lack of exercise, genetics, fat, environment etc are the causes of weight gain. As he superbly demonstrates, the answer is none of these and perhaps a bit of all of these (including other factors not commonly considered but potential contributors such as increased living temperatures). The book finishes with an explanation of why weight gain is a complex rather than just a complicated problem and really requires a system solution.
This is an excellent book that challenges the 'eat less, exercise more' moral simplicity of many fat shamers and blamers and indicates that there are many convulted reasons why any individual may be fat, and why societies are becoming fatter. The book is extremely well researched and written and kept me entertained and informed throughout.
August 16, 2019
Misses the point!
I have only managed to read a quarter of this book and it has me screaming at the author that he is completely missing the point. It essentially gives a few reasons for obesity but essentially tries to down play the social, financial and health cost. He basically says our perception of obesity, is a bigger issue than all the health costs. That obesity is normal just as over time people are getting ta!ler.
He correctly covers the issue of low calorie diets not working but doesn't go on to give any scientific or other data around the true causes of obesity (processed food, continuous eating, low fat (again read processed) foods. If you want to read something eye opening and actually helpful in combating obesity read Zoe Harcombe's obesity book or Jason Fung's obesity code.
I have only managed to read a quarter of this book and it has me screaming at the author that he is completely missing the point. It essentially gives a few reasons for obesity but essentially tries to down play the social, financial and health cost. He basically says our perception of obesity, is a bigger issue than all the health costs. That obesity is normal just as over time people are getting ta!ler.
He correctly covers the issue of low calorie diets not working but doesn't go on to give any scientific or other data around the true causes of obesity (processed food, continuous eating, low fat (again read processed) foods. If you want to read something eye opening and actually helpful in combating obesity read Zoe Harcombe's obesity book or Jason Fung's obesity code.
January 30, 2019
A balanced, empathetic and well researched look at at a complex issue. I cantered through this and so much resonated.
February 16, 2020
A very different take on the obesity crisis written by a chef who also has a degree in biochemistry. Doesn’t offer easy solutions as in his view there aren’t any. Fascinating and well written.
August 9, 2020
In "The Truth About Fat," Anthony Warner, who is a British chef and food writer with a degree in biochemistry, explores the subject of obesity. He intelligently and lucidly addresses the following questions: Is the much talked-about obesity epidemic as serious as we have been led to believe? How effective are the most popular diet programs? What physiological processes are involved in appetite control and fat storage? Should we make a determined effort to cut down on sugar and carbs? What role, if any, do fat-shaming, processed foods, stress, and poverty play in our ever expanding waistlines?
Obesity is a complex subject. Warner agrees with the assertion that obesity "is a modern health crisis, unstoppably spreading around the world." Moreover, obesity "is strongly linked to a range of chronic disease," such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. That being said, Warner cites a host of studies that demonstrate the futility of restrictive diets. Simply telling overweight men, women, and children to eat less and move more is condescending and unhelpful. Warner, who has conducted extensive research and cites his sources in his long list of endnotes, states that there is no "one size fits all" solution to weight loss. The human body has a tendency to come back to a set point even after someone goes on a diet and loses weight. Furthermore, the author insists, there is still much to be learned about the role of hormones, genes, emotions, and financial inequality in weight gain and a person's overall health.
Warner, who calls himself the Angry Chef, has been thin all his life, a fact that he ascribes to "pure luck," not to his food choices nor to a strenuous exercise regimen. In this well-written and entertaining book, Warner claims that it is a waste of time to search for a magical plan that will make us slim. We should neither fetishize weight loss nor harbor unrealistic expectations of what is attainable. However, the book's chief flaw is that Warner should have spent more time discussing an important strategy that can promote weight loss and well-being. That is to retrain our palates to appreciate well-prepared meals that emphasize the intake of vegetables, fish, and whole grains. Getting a good night's sleep, exercising sensibly, and reducing stress may also help people shed unwanted pounds, improve their mobility, and reduce fatigue. It would be wise for us as a society to stop demonizing obese individuals for being "lazy" and "lacking in will-power." This attitude is cruel, pointless, and in many cases, untrue. When it comes to obesity, "there is no single cure, because there was never a single cause." That does not mean that we should simply give up and accept the status quo.
Obesity is a complex subject. Warner agrees with the assertion that obesity "is a modern health crisis, unstoppably spreading around the world." Moreover, obesity "is strongly linked to a range of chronic disease," such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. That being said, Warner cites a host of studies that demonstrate the futility of restrictive diets. Simply telling overweight men, women, and children to eat less and move more is condescending and unhelpful. Warner, who has conducted extensive research and cites his sources in his long list of endnotes, states that there is no "one size fits all" solution to weight loss. The human body has a tendency to come back to a set point even after someone goes on a diet and loses weight. Furthermore, the author insists, there is still much to be learned about the role of hormones, genes, emotions, and financial inequality in weight gain and a person's overall health.
Warner, who calls himself the Angry Chef, has been thin all his life, a fact that he ascribes to "pure luck," not to his food choices nor to a strenuous exercise regimen. In this well-written and entertaining book, Warner claims that it is a waste of time to search for a magical plan that will make us slim. We should neither fetishize weight loss nor harbor unrealistic expectations of what is attainable. However, the book's chief flaw is that Warner should have spent more time discussing an important strategy that can promote weight loss and well-being. That is to retrain our palates to appreciate well-prepared meals that emphasize the intake of vegetables, fish, and whole grains. Getting a good night's sleep, exercising sensibly, and reducing stress may also help people shed unwanted pounds, improve their mobility, and reduce fatigue. It would be wise for us as a society to stop demonizing obese individuals for being "lazy" and "lacking in will-power." This attitude is cruel, pointless, and in many cases, untrue. When it comes to obesity, "there is no single cure, because there was never a single cause." That does not mean that we should simply give up and accept the status quo.
April 26, 2019
very coarse language [i guess to be expected from author of "The Angry Chef"] used to express strong opinions about nature, causes, consequences of obesity, along with mainly pessimistic thoughts about likely success of interventions.
He's down on trans fats and pro exercise if you can sustain it, but with that exception most single-bullet analyses (cut back on carbs; cut back on fats; eat paleo or keto; enact taxes on sugar-laden soft drinks; start farmers' markets.....) of the problem come in for harsh treatment, often based on fairly convincing research reviews.
even the nature of the purported "epidemic" gets a skeptical review here -- looking at average BMI as a continuous variable shows a smoother increase over time than does selecting somewhat arbitrary cutpoints like "over 30 is obese" and reporting what % are on the wrong side of the line in a particular year.
Somewhat unsatisfying conclusion that it's a "complex" [to be distinguished from "complicated"] problem requiring multifaceted interventions from all angles. It's a little disconcerting, even if realistic, to get a detailed analysis of why it's almost impossible to sustain a weight loss program predicated on restricted diet.......and then hear that it's all good because all we have to do among many other things is reduce economic inequality and end stigma. Check. on it.
i was about to say that some of his advice about eating in moderation what you really enjoy and tuning into the experience, sharing it with others, etc. is a lot like what I read in Al Marston's 1983 book The Undiet, but upon googling that book just now I find that the #1 entry is my saying the same thing about a mindful eating book, on goodreads, nearly 10 years ago. Repeating myself by way of saying an author is repeating another author is a little too meta, so I'm out.
He's down on trans fats and pro exercise if you can sustain it, but with that exception most single-bullet analyses (cut back on carbs; cut back on fats; eat paleo or keto; enact taxes on sugar-laden soft drinks; start farmers' markets.....) of the problem come in for harsh treatment, often based on fairly convincing research reviews.
even the nature of the purported "epidemic" gets a skeptical review here -- looking at average BMI as a continuous variable shows a smoother increase over time than does selecting somewhat arbitrary cutpoints like "over 30 is obese" and reporting what % are on the wrong side of the line in a particular year.
Somewhat unsatisfying conclusion that it's a "complex" [to be distinguished from "complicated"] problem requiring multifaceted interventions from all angles. It's a little disconcerting, even if realistic, to get a detailed analysis of why it's almost impossible to sustain a weight loss program predicated on restricted diet.......and then hear that it's all good because all we have to do among many other things is reduce economic inequality and end stigma. Check. on it.
i was about to say that some of his advice about eating in moderation what you really enjoy and tuning into the experience, sharing it with others, etc. is a lot like what I read in Al Marston's 1983 book The Undiet, but upon googling that book just now I find that the #1 entry is my saying the same thing about a mindful eating book, on goodreads, nearly 10 years ago. Repeating myself by way of saying an author is repeating another author is a little too meta, so I'm out.
July 13, 2019
I don't know much about dieting-- I was a really skinny kid and my goal was always to eat enough, not eat less. But I am just over the threshold for "overweight" based on my BMI now and have started trying to limit how many desserts I eat, have mostly stopped drinking soda, etc. So I was curious about the science of it. According to this book written by a chef with extensive research, restricting calories almost never causes anyone to lose weight long term, nor does exercising more, because the body has ways of compensating for those things and will overcompensate. Your body doesn't even use a lot of calories that go through you, so if you start restricting them it will just take more from the stream, and slow down your metabolism to use the ones it gets more efficiently. A lot of it just has to do with your genes and gut bacteria. Besides, he says, being a little overweight isn't actually unhealthy. The misery of dieting is worse than the health problems caused by not dieting. He says we need a healthy relationship with home-cooked food, like the French. And stop treating fat people like lepers.
I don't know about all that. Yeah, there are studies, but was he cherry-picking? Do people in studies behave differently than people who are motivated to start dieting on their own? It's an interesting perspective, but I'm not convinced it applies to someone in my situation.
I don't know about all that. Yeah, there are studies, but was he cherry-picking? Do people in studies behave differently than people who are motivated to start dieting on their own? It's an interesting perspective, but I'm not convinced it applies to someone in my situation.
October 15, 2021
A very sensible and reassuring book. It's made me rethink the high ratings I've given to other books about diet recently. I find his insights around diet and class identity particularly interesting. Since losing my job (thanks pandemic!) I have realised that a lot of dietary advice is written with people of a certain level of income in mind.
I like his argument that we need to focus on helping people be healthier, which does not necessarily entail them losing weight.
Some favourite quotes:
"Obesity is not an activity that people
do, and so the consistent demand to
stop being obese is of little value."
"public health organisations... exist to
help us be healthy, not to become
thin. Anyone who researches,
campaigns, writes or works on
obesity, food and health should ask themselves this. Are we worried
about people's health, or about their
silhouette? If we could magically take
away the health harms of being fat,
would we consider the problem
solved? Or are we just desperate to
make people thin to satisfy aesthetic
and cultural ideals?"
I like his argument that we need to focus on helping people be healthier, which does not necessarily entail them losing weight.
Some favourite quotes:
"Obesity is not an activity that people
do, and so the consistent demand to
stop being obese is of little value."
"public health organisations... exist to
help us be healthy, not to become
thin. Anyone who researches,
campaigns, writes or works on
obesity, food and health should ask themselves this. Are we worried
about people's health, or about their
silhouette? If we could magically take
away the health harms of being fat,
would we consider the problem
solved? Or are we just desperate to
make people thin to satisfy aesthetic
and cultural ideals?"
May 2, 2021
Maybe this book is good if you haven’t taken multiple university level endocrinology and biochemistry courses? I knew most of it so it was pretty dull
Things I didn’t like:
There are some inaccuracies in the book (like you can’t digest cellulose) which threw me off and made me feel like I couldnt trust it
It felt like a skinny person talking to a skinny person with fairly judgemental language while preaching we shouldn’t judge
The writing generally was pretty judgemental which isn’t standard practice for scientific writing so it felt like I couldn’t trust it.
Some chapters were really long (like genetics) whereas some more interesting chapters like the microbiome were far too short
Things I didn’t like:
There are some inaccuracies in the book (like you can’t digest cellulose) which threw me off and made me feel like I couldnt trust it
It felt like a skinny person talking to a skinny person with fairly judgemental language while preaching we shouldn’t judge
The writing generally was pretty judgemental which isn’t standard practice for scientific writing so it felt like I couldn’t trust it.
Some chapters were really long (like genetics) whereas some more interesting chapters like the microbiome were far too short
January 14, 2022
Passionate and forensic.
Details the problem as generally portrayed and dissects it to reveal the real problem and other problems then pulls out the issues and analyses them individually and in detail.
The customary style, language and attitudes of the 'Angry Chef' which only goes to reinforce the message that 'fat' is not the problem, many others thing are and fat is often the consequence and not the cause of them.
Will not go down well with the usual vested interests but should be read by anybody interested in human health, diet and social trends.
Details the problem as generally portrayed and dissects it to reveal the real problem and other problems then pulls out the issues and analyses them individually and in detail.
The customary style, language and attitudes of the 'Angry Chef' which only goes to reinforce the message that 'fat' is not the problem, many others thing are and fat is often the consequence and not the cause of them.
Will not go down well with the usual vested interests but should be read by anybody interested in human health, diet and social trends.
June 26, 2019
I read this one because I enjoyed his first book. This one does not have the same foul mouthed humor, but its tone is appropriate for the subject matter.
I thought part one could have been tightened up some; it seemed a little repetitive. But part two was fantastically informative, especially the section on being poor.
I thought part one could have been tightened up some; it seemed a little repetitive. But part two was fantastically informative, especially the section on being poor.
May 9, 2021
I really love Anthony Warner's books. He comes at diet and obesity from so many different angles, and with so much empathy. The Truth About Fat explores obesity and asks why it's on the rise. Is it because we're lazy? Is it because we're addicted?
For the heavy topic, it's a relatively light and fun read.
For the heavy topic, it's a relatively light and fun read.
December 12, 2019
Witty, poignant, informative and without the unnecessary guilting every non-skinny person is used to hearing when reading books about fat. Well researched and presented in a very engaging way. Loved the book!
February 27, 2020
I don't normally read books like this but the Angry Chef makes perfect sense.
March 13, 2020
Some interesting ideas but the author seems to drag them out! And his favourite scientist, for whatever reason, must be Katherine Flegal.
Basically no-one can lose weight and keep it off.
Basically no-one can lose weight and keep it off.
September 26, 2021
Everyone should read this.
July 5, 2020
Obesity is not just from calories in and calories out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2023
So informative, and so well written. I loved it
February 7, 2019
Very good, fresh thinking on why we are fat and what we should do about it
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews